Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-06-17
The Captured Flags.

The President has revoked the action OF
the War Department Offering TO return Con-
federate battle flags to the Southern States.
In his letter he says:
II have to day considered with more care
than when the subject was orally presented
to me the action of your department direct
ing letters to be addressed to the Governors
Of all the States Offering to return, if desired,
to the loyal States the Union flags captured
during the war of the rebellion by the Con-
federate forces and afterwards recovered by
government troops, and 10 the Confederate
States the flags captured by the Union forces,
all of which for many years have been
packed in boxes and stored in the cellar
and attic of the War Department. | an of
the opinion that tho return of the flags in
the manner thus contemplated is not au-
thorized by existing law nor justified as an
executive act. | request, therefore, that no
further steps be taken in the matter except
to examine and inventory these flags and
adopt proper measures for their preserva-
ton. ANY direction as to the final DISPOSE
ton OF them should originate with Con-
gress."
The following statement with regard to
the Presidents action concerning the pro-
posed return of the battle flags was made at
the White House last night TO representa-
tive of the Associated Press:
"When the question was proposed 10 the
President by the Adjutant General, an i'm
portant feature suggested was the return TO
the loyal States of the flags which had been
captured by the Confederates and retaken
by our army at the time of the collapse of
the rebellion. They, with such Confederate
flags SO had been captured from the enemy
by our troops, had, it was represented, for
long time lain uncared for and neglected,
packed away in boxes, in the cellar of the
War Department, and had been removed
to the. attic as better place for their safe
keeping The disposition OF the flags, which
seemed to be answering no good purpose
where they were, was the main point, and
the consideration was presented to the Pres.
ident that some flags had been returned TO
loyal States upon their request in individual
cases, and tho rest, if desired, might as well
all be returned together. The return of the
Confederate flags, which were with the
others in the department, was suggested,
but there was not the tbs slightest thought
of interfering i'll any way with the cap
tured flags now held By any State.
The fact, apparently received with favor
by the country that lately I'D one or more
cases, Northern troops visiting their late
antagonists at the South, had returned to
them flags which had been captured in ba:-
tie from those whose inequalities they We're
receiving ; the further act that Northern
troops who within a short time had been
visiting Southern battlefields had spoken in
the warmest terms Of the kind and hospit-
able treatment they had received from for
mer Confederate soldiers, and the fact, too,
that soldiers from the North and South
were just gathering at Washington to meet
in friendly competition at the national drill
seemed to Indicate that if the Union flags
were returned to the loyal States which had
lost them in battle, it would not he incon
sistent with the fraternal sentiment which
seemed to be prevalent to offer, at the same
time, to the Governors of the States former
ly in rebellion, return Of the tlaga which
we had taken from their soldiers.
"Fhe right of the department to make
these returns being questioned by the Presi- !